Abstract
This research aim to 1) investigate risk perceptions and preventive behaviors as well as the control of work-related risks among latex pillow processing workers, 2) study the factors affecting risk perceptions and preventive behaviors as well as control of work-related risks among latex pillow processing workers, and 3) establish the guidelines or measures and prepare manuals on the development of hazard prevention to address the occupational health and safety problems among latex pillow processing workers in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The sample size for the survey on risk perception and hazard prevention from working with latex pillow processing were a total of 10 community enterprises and SME groups for latex pillow processing in Nakhon Si Thammarat, with a number of 74 workers. The research adopted the Participatory Action Research (PAR) through the qualitative study and participatory learning technique during November 2019 to December 2020. The research was conducted by studying the baseline data of occupational health hazards, survey the working condition, and monitoring the physical working environment. Researchers apply work improvement in small enterprises (WISE) and job safety analysis (JSA) techniques that points out hazards in every working process. It is also required for their participation in determining the procedures and methods in each procedure to ensure collaborations between researchers and latex pillow processing workers. Data analysis were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Inferential statistics by multiple regression analysis to analyze the correlation of factors influencing risk perceptions and preventive behaviors as well as work-related risk control among latex pillow processing workers in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The study found that top five rankings of risk factors exposed to latex pillow processing workers were working positions with lowering/raising their heads, positions with body bending, repetitive working positions for a long time, chemical exposure, and moisture exposure, accounted for 3.29, 3.10, 2.94, 2.78 and 2.70 mean, respectively. The correlation between personal factors and risk perceptions among latex pillow processing workers through an analysis of correlation between variables found that females had statistical significance (p-value = 0.006; 95%CI: 3.75 – 21.55), working periods of latex pillow processing with statistical significance (p-value = 0.001; 95%CI: (-1.05) – 7.36), and receiving the trainings of safe and proper latex pillow processing with statistical significance (p-value = 0.0001; 95%CI: (-29.72) – (-12.96)). An adjustment of possible influences from other covariate variables found that females (p-value = 0.006; 95%CI: 3.75 – 21.55) with working periods for latex pillow processing approximately 8 hours/day (p-value = 0.014; 95%CI: (-19.35) – (-2.31)), having the records of allergies (p-value = 0.003; 95%CI: (-38.61) – (-8.47)), and receiving the training of safe and proper latex pillow processing (p-value = 0.0001; 95%CI: (-33.91) – (-2.31)) showed statistical significance. The results of the development from the application of Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) and Job Safety Analysis (JSA) techniques to improve the working environment were found that after the implementation, community enterprises had a better working environment in several areas based on the WISE Technique elements, such as improving work posture, chemical safety, and personal safety equipment, etc. The steps for successful work improvements among workers used by the researchers include 1) understanding the problems, 2) providing knowledge of safe working conditions, 3) collaboratively finding the guidelines for improving the work environment, 4) jointly improving the work environment, and 5) doing follow-up and supporting the operations. The hazard-prevention models are regarded as the primary prevention strategies developed by collaborations of latex pillow processing workers and relevant agencies in the local area, which will result in the prevention for health impacts and improve the quality of working life in a concrete and sustainable way.
